UK government warned it has five days to stop NHS strikes spreading – as it happened

General secretary of Unite says NHS strike will deepen next week unless ministers undertake serious pay talks' with health staff. This live blog is now closed

In his latest column, Simon Jenkins argues that instead of fighting for the centre ground, Keir Starmer should look to the radical changes pushed through under Harold Wilson.

Wes Streeting has declined to say whether a Labour government would agree to a pay rise for nurses.